SCOTAS-SOFC

In this project a new ceramic based cell has been produced by integrating a very promising class of materials, strontium titanates, into electrolyte supported SOFCs. Area specific cell resistances (ASR) between 850-900 °C were in the range of 0.3 to 0.6 Ohm cm2, very close to state-of-the-art electrolyte supported cells in a similar test configuration. For anode supported button cells power densities of 950 mW/cm2 were achieved for LSCT infiltrated with Ni and ceria using hydrogen as fuel. Testing the cells in 5 cell short stacks using pipeline natural gas as fuel confirmed superior redox stability compared to state-of-the-art Ni-cermet based cells while only similar behaviour as regards the sulphur tolerance was observed. The cell concept was finally demonstrated by testing a 800 W stack in a Hexis Galileo system, proving the robustness of the strontium titanate cells towards fuel cut-offs in the system. The thermal behaviour of the stack as well as the electrical and mechanical properties of the strontium titanate layers as evaluated in the project point to further adaptation of the stack design in order to make full advantage of the newly developed cells.